Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-11
ly, yet with a glance so full OF point, that


fringe of which curled in soft rings over
her brow, her lovely arms sud neck
cleaning white from amid some delicate
old lace, Melanie seemed sweeter and
fsirer than ever woman looked before in
the eyes OF her young lover and his elderly
rival, who was then thinking, in fancy, !
how she would look with tue BraybTooke
diamonds sparkling on her breast, her
throst, and brow-tne same magnificent
diamonds his grest grandmother had
worn at court, when, in the days Of
GARNER George" she had been q maid 1
Of honor to Queen Charlotte, who, as
usual with her, coveted the said gems
sorelY.
AS he whispered to her there in the
twilight, apart from the rest in that vast
apartment, Sir Brisco hoped to win her
almost passiOnstely, for his years-hoped,
but not with the esgerness of youth or
with the dawn OF love revealing that life
had something in store for him hitherto
unknown.
She was beautiful, poor, and, so far as
her unc.e was concerned, helpless, ne
knew and he never doubted that With
time, patience and perseverance,, his
wealth and position would win her for
him in the end-s bride more beautiful
by far than RavensbOurne had ever seen
before.
He'd Mslsnie Talbot been an heiress,
his hopes mad been less confident GER
tainly; out there were depths in her
nature 10 which Sir BriscO had no CleW.
! More than once, taking advantage OF the
! situation, and while 8 young lady was al
! dieting all present with one OF those rapid
| songs IN which all words are undetecta-
! hlp which r. 10 r,aCI1 Iivri+vy
OF "the British drawing-room," he en-
deavored to recur to what had passed at
Mrs Chillington's lawn-tennis party; but
OF that Melanie vas nervOusly conscious,
ana tried with all her skill, but often
vainlY, TO change the subjeCf, for, with
the GOODNESS born of years and experience
the bar0net was pretty pointed.
''S!ill you avoid NE, or would seek to,
Miss TAlbot?' he continued.
"In Whist way, Sir BIisCC?n she asked,
using ner fan quickly, but uncCnsCiously.
"Fate, with you, is strangely against
me-"
"Please don't be Observation-Disclosures"
every hOur-eVery moment spend
in your society, perhaps unwisely for my
own peace, sees me falling deeper into
the gulf from which no hand but yours
can saye me-"
How white, alas, in the moonlight, his
mustaChe looked as he said this into the
girls unwilling ear. lie did not speak
: in a heart-brOken accent, certainly; he
was too old, too hardened" foI
) that, out to Melanie it was terrible to
- listen to this sort Of thing. She, the
= promised wife Of another, whose eyes
were actuslly then upon her, but who
& unfortunate fellow was then button
r hOled by the Vicar on our Indian policy
/ and the treason that surrendered Gavin
e pore after we bad captured it.
i Melanie mad In her heart an emotion o
{ dire proyocation.
81 have tried to forget you" Sir Brisct
{ continued, "but l might as well try L
5 live Without brains as without heart
?, Melanie, IL her worry and annoyance
used her fan till it RULED the cu-ls Of he
!, fringe.
: On! how easy it seemed to make low
in this fashion, and Huently at sixty year
. and more!
d Not thus boldly had Montague Ions
l., dale let the story OF his love Tor hec es
# cape him, on an evening never TO be foI
gotten, IN = time, OF supreme 10y End tri
!, umph, when they hsd, haG muteIy o
~ brokenlY, exchanged the secrets Of thei
= that hsd been without parallel for theI
4 before or since.
n Melaine now felt that By her uncl5
= who had dragged her TO Ravensbourn
- He'll, she was placed in q false an1 HI
% initiating position, which compelled be
ia to listen to the bsrOnet's addresses whe
h her distinct refusal Of his offers else
where should have raised a barrier ot
tween them and placed their interCours
u in society on different basis.
> She did not raise her face to chat of S
IS Briscc, as she felt conscious that it wol
g an expression of trouble and anger; an
u there he mistook the cause that made ne
u long, dark lashes drOOp-almOst rest O
her psle cheeks.
u "Will you think Of what have said 81
IS fore? Will you think of what have sal
IS now?" continued Sir Brlsco, as if he ha
- been Offering her some luCra tive or elig
OF BILE situation. "Probably not?" he addet
detecting the expression of her face.
S, "You are wrong, Sir Brisco-I sha
Of think Of you and think kindly, as long
1t live"
d, "KindIy-snd nothing more?"
10 Nothing more," replied Melanie, cur
s. ly now.
I'd "Why- Oh, Why"
le $40, Sir Brisco let this subject cease,
ut 81 will not take this SIS g final answer.
10 Nor did he.
sn When Melsnie left the Hall TO EetuI
ir home, Montague Lonsdale felt pique
N and sngTy-vaguely annoyed. Under ii
or eyes OF her uncle and those OF their hos
he found that Melanie was not more tbs
at calmly ard studiously polite, declining
(" be cloaked or assisted by him. ST
d, thought that he would know the reasG
or why; but he did not, and began to fea
rs or attribute her apparent GOODNESS
ne manner to some change, some new II
u, huence, and he recalled Unpleasantly II
"subtle something he rad detected
. the ,S"aTinG of the barouet at dinner.
ia Ike masters worse, the latter pr,
J. sented her with & bouquet of gran
ID Gloire de Dion roses. just as he hande
Is her into the carriage, and see was cor
! strained 10 accept them.
O. "HOw you must laugh st our pot
IS specimens Of these at the cottsge," sa
- she.
< "Do not ssy SO. At the cottage the
n. is one rose COyet more than au Il
n. rest" replied Sir Brisco, in low voice
nj but still Lonsdale heard him.
Musgrave drove the Vicarage par
home in g trap. and LOnsdale was left f
n an hour or two in the smoking rooI
en- over brandy and soda and cigars, wi
n, their host, who, under the influence
ly what he had imbibed at dinner and ait
ne it, waXed unwisely communicative, al
rs rather gave the young officer g glimpse
Isl the carte du OgVS